Mystic Calling：Stone of Glory-Chapter 866: No One Gets Left Behind

Ethan hovered in midair, eyes sharp as blades.

"You dared to touch Emerald Castle’s energy source."

"You must have a death wish."

Before the words even finished echoing, the sky above twisted with surging power.

A massive Energy Disc formed overhead—like a golden meteor—and came crashing down with terrifying force.

Seraphine’s expression shifted instantly.

Almost on instinct, she threw herself in front of her people. Light flared between her hands, condensing into a brilliant orb of pure Light Force. She hurled it straight at the incoming attack.

—BOOM!!!

The two forces collided head-on.

The air screamed as it tore apart. Sparks exploded wildly at the point of impact, and space itself seemed to warp under the pressure.

The mountainside trembled.

Chunks of rock rained down like a storm.

Ethan’s pupils narrowed slightly.

"...Such pure light energy?"

But what truly caught him off guard—

Her energy level had already reached the peak of Tier 30.

If not for the boost from his Powered Combat Armor, he knew he wouldn’t be able to suppress her so easily.

He stepped back half a pace, arms crossing as energy surged through him—stretching, compressing—until it solidified into a blazing Energy Greatsword in his hands.

Seraphine didn’t back down either.

Light Force flowed between her fingers, forming a slender, steady blade—like dawn frozen into steel.

"I don’t want to fight you," she said, her voice cutting through the energy storm, urgent but restrained. "We just need the energy... I’ll repay it."

Her answer came in the form of a sword slash tearing through the air.

Ethan didn’t give her a chance to say more.

Their figures clashed midair above the valley.

—BOOM!

The shockwave ripped across the ridgeline.

Distant peaks groaned under the pressure. Cracks spiderwebbed across the rock, and entire slabs of stone sheared off and tumbled down.

Seraphine held her ground, keeping her light barrier up, shielding her people behind her without fail.

Ethan paused for a beat, surprised.

It was rare to see a leader so willing to throw themselves into danger to protect their own.

Even in the bloodiest battles he’d fought, he couldn’t always guarantee he’d be able to shield those behind him every second.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself—then unleashed his full power.

His interest in Seraphine had grown.

Right now, what Emerald Castle needed most was strength.

Pure, divine light energy was already rare in this world. Even within Emerald Castle, only Andona possessed something remotely similar—but her power was chaotic, a byproduct of her Angel King bloodline.

Seraphine was different.

Her entire being seemed forged from holy light. The radiant gem on her forehead, glowing with sacred brilliance, set her apart even more.

But before bringing her back to Emerald Castle, Ethan wanted to test her—see just how far her strength could go.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Their bodies clashed again and again in midair, each impact sending shockwaves that flattened everything around them.

No one knew how many blows had been exchanged when Seraphine suddenly let out a sharp cry, pulling back and planting herself firmly in front of her people.

"If you’re going to take the energy," she shouted, "then take it from me! Leave them out of this!"

Ethan raised an eyebrow and took a slow step toward her.

"With how weak they are, there’s no way they could’ve stolen energy from Emerald Castle. This was clearly your doing. But relax—if you come back with me, I won’t hold the others accountable."

Seraphine didn’t hesitate. She lowered her head and gave a silent nod, then stepped forward and raised her hands in surrender.

"Your Majesty, you can’t!" a voice cried out behind her, trembling with emotion.

"We’ll take the blame! You have to survive!" one of her people stepped forward, voice shaking.

"You’ve already sacrificed so much for us. If someone has to pay the price, let it be us!" As soon as the words left his mouth, the crowd stirred. One after another, her people stepped forward, each one ready to take her place.

Ethan cleared his throat. "Well then, all of you can come back with me to Emerald Castle."

Seraphine’s expression darkened. "No. They’ve suffered enough. If you’re going to drag them back for judgment, you might as well kill them here."

Ethan tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning the group behind her.

They were pale, frail—clearly starving. Their bodies looked brittle, worn down by a lack of energy. Even Seraphine herself looked thinner than she should’ve been.

Despite the brilliance of her Light Force, it wasn’t at full strength. She hadn’t reached her peak.

And even though her tier was higher than Ethan’s, their fight had ended in a draw. If she hadn’t been so exhausted, he knew the battle might’ve dragged on even longer.

Right now, she clearly didn’t have the strength to keep fighting. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have surrendered so easily.

Ethan paused, thinking it over. Then a faint smile tugged at his lips.

He looked over the group, his gaze calm but commanding. "Emerald Castle has its laws. You’ll all have to return and face judgment. But before that, I’ll make sure your basic needs are met."

He paused, letting the words settle.

"If you’re sick, I’ll see you treated. If you’re starving, I’ll make sure you’re fed. If your energy reserves are depleted, I’ll provide what you need to recover."

The air went still.

Everyone froze, eyes shifting with disbelief.

Judgment?

This didn’t sound like punishment—it sounded like salvation.

"...We have others," someone said from the crowd, hesitant. "Can they come too?"

More voices followed, quiet but urgent. Faces filled with hesitation, desperation.

They’d been running for so long, hunted and worn down. To survive, they’d been forced to steal energy. Many had died along the way. And if death was the only thing waiting for them, then at the very least, they wanted one last warm meal. One last moment of peace.

"Of course," Ethan said without missing a beat, his voice firm and resolute. "I said everyone would face judgment. No one gets left behind."

At that, the tension broke. Relief swept through the crowd like a wave. People began stepping forward, hands outstretched—not in fear, but in hope.

Ethan didn’t waste time. He secured energy cuffs on each of them and led the group back toward Emerald Castle.

When they crossed into Emerald Castle’s territory, Seraphine stopped dead in her tracks.

The sight before her left her speechless.

The city was far more advanced than she’d imagined.

Mechanoids of all shapes and sizes moved through the streets, each one radiating a pressure so intense it made the air feel heavy. The sheer power in the atmosphere was suffocating.

Seraphine stood frozen, staring in awe.

She’d never imagined a nation like this still existed in the world.

Her body tensed instinctively, her steps halting. The ambient energy in the air filled her limbs with a strange, unfamiliar warmth—like her body was finally remembering what it meant to be whole.

"Didn’t the boss go out to deal with some thieves? Why’d he bring back a bunch of refugees?" a voice cut through her daze.

"They’re skin and bones. Not even worth selling as slaves. What’s he thinking, dragging them back here?" another voice scoffed.

"Even scraps are still meat," someone else chimed in, tone thoughtful. "Maybe if we give them enough energy, they’ll bounce back a little."

The murmurs grew, voices overlapping, all eyes slowly turning toward Seraphine.

She stood out like a beacon.

Her beauty was undeniable—but it was more than that. The divine light radiating from her seemed to illuminate everything around her. She wasn’t just striking—she was luminous. A warm, sacred presence that made people stop and stare, drawn in without even realizing it.